Advice on running Windows Update

Since Windows Update automatcially downloads and installs the updates, is it advisable to disable my a/v and firewall during this?

Is there a way to just find the security updates and download them and install them manually later? I don't generally like automatic installs because I always have my a/v and firewall running and you're supposed to disable these before installing stuff.

 

That's what I mean, when I go to the update site. It wants to download and install all the stuff automatically. I'd much rather it gave me the option to download the setup files to my PC to install when I wish.

 

On the windows update site, make note of the updates it reccomends, then go to http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/en/default.asp

Find and download your updates, install whenever you want to.
Saving copies to CD also advisable in case reinstall ever required.

 

shadowhawk--Most Windows Updates offer the option to Save or Run when you click Download--at least they do for me when I go to the WU site manually. Every now and then there is the exception.
"Is there a way to just find the security updates and download them and install them manually later? "
Go here
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/current.asp

 

Thanks for that! I put it in my faves. I got 2 EXEs sitting on my desktop waiting to be installed. I'm lazy about it cause then I have to go thru all the **** of shutting down my a/v and firewall and everything else running. I always go down to bear-bones (EXPLORER and SYSTRAY the only things running) before I do any updating.